Speed Channel's Krista Voda returns to Iowa roots for NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race
Sep 01, 2009
As the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series teams forge new territory this weekend at Iowa Speedway (Sept. 5 at 10 p.m. ET live on SPEED; NCWTS Setup with Krista Voda at 9:30 p.m. ET), their tour guide is a familiar face in the region and in living rooms nationwide.
Krista Voda, host of NCWTS Setup and Clinton, Iowa, native, grew up approximately three hours from Newton, home of Iowa Speedway and warns against underestimating the significance of Saturday’s race to the community and The Hawkeye State, a state desperate to throw its fervent support behind a professional sport.
“Iowa is full of race fans - from NASCAR to sprint cars to local short-track series,” Voda said. “Iowa doesn't have NFL, NBA, NHL or MLB teams, but we do have sports fans - fans who desperately want a sport, a venue or a team to call their own. Now they can display that pride by supporting Iowa Speedway in a big way. Because it sits in a state without a professional sports team, Iowa Speedway has a unique opportunity to build an immense NASCAR fan base.”
Even Voda, who didn’t grow up in racing, but on a steady diet of football, baseball and basketball, recognized at an early age the importance of racing to the area.
“I was raised as more of a stick-and-ball sports fan but I knew local short-track racing was big in nearly every community,” she recalled. “And there was always so much hype surrounding The Knoxville Nationals. In fact, I thought Knoxville, Iowa, was the Knoxville. As a young kid, I didn't even know Knoxville, Tennessee, existed!”
Voda, who recently visited the Iowa State Fair to promote the Truck Series event, points to the exciting Aug. 1 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Iowa Speedway and its 60,000-plus sellout crowd as an indicator of the state’s passion for NASCAR.
“The support Iowans showed for the Nationwide race is proof they've been ready for this for a long time,” Voda explained. “But with these races come responsibility. Each fan who has so vocally desired a race in Iowa needs to come out Sept. 5 and prove to the NASCAR executives that Iowa deserve both races, and possibly a Cup race, for years to come.”
Race fans aren’t the only ones eagerly counting down the days to this weekend. For quite some time, Voda, a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, has anticipated this day and the opportunity it provides to marry her love of NASCAR with her Midwest roots.
“I've been excited about this race ever since the schedule came out - actually since this race was even rumored to be under consideration,” she said. “Covering this race will be different than any other for me because this one will be so personal. I'm thrilled for the state, the track and the fans.”
And speaking of the fans, Voda says her fellow Iowans see a reflection of themselves in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
“I think The Truck Series represents the state of Iowa better than any other series - tough, raw, blue collar and hard-working,” Voda said. “What Iowan can't relate to that?”
Source: SPEEDtv.com
« back
